F5 Works - Software and Web Development

The Point of Sale (POS) Online project is a large corporate Extranet that controls and manages the creation and delivery of print based media to M&S. The overall system consists of various modules including account planning, print procurement, job tracking, warehousing, store planning, online ordering, customised reporting and store news; which all form a unique tailored package for the client.

REQUIREMENTS

The purpose of the system is to manage the entire process in creating and delivering print based media to all M&S stores. This includes everything from planning the print job (where size, material, repro, finishing and other pertinent requirements are entered) to selecting suitable suppliers for requesting quotations. Using these details, the system would need to track previous jobs that have had the same or similar characteristics and estimate the new cost as accurately as possible.

SOLUTION

• User entering the print campaign details, the system proceeds to procurement and selects suitable suppliers for requesting quotations.
• Complete tracking and management of all print from conception, delivery and end of life.
• Custom creation of PDF files for ad hoc prints to a digital printer using a template based system.
• Separate interfaces for M&S' head office, stores, suppliers, print, delivery drivers and administration.
• Real time tracking of the print job by itemising each task – all tasks involved in the print process are tracked and costed from design through to delivery.
• Due to the large volume of print involved, the system also generates routing and delivery documents for all the drivers.
• Proactive tracking - If the system knows a task is overdue it raises alerts and sends emails.
• Custom reports can be developed easily by M&S staff.
• Solution is based on professional Microsoft development technologies.